My Christmas photo

So far we have been blessed with mild weather this winter, making getting around in The Yorkshire Dales much easier than 2010!
Let's hope that this continues into 2012 and we can look forward to a mild Spring.

Pictured below is Elslack Grange Bed & Breakfast on Elslack Lane in Elslack last winter!!

Merry Christmas! and i'll see you next year!

Day 2 of The Inn Way. Yorkshire Dales

It's been a month or so since the 1st stage of The Inn Way.
It was time to tackle Day 2 before the weather 'turned'!!

So, what did we do? We planned it for December 3rd...which turned out to be the 1st day of snow this winter!!!!
We left Elslack Grange at 8-15 am in a snow storm but arrived in Buckden in dry conditions.
However, 3 hrs later we were on the top of Kidstones Pass in a howling wind & hailstorm!
The weather only worsened as we descended. From then on the 'going' was tough!! walking through a snowstorm and across very boggy fields.

Our Lunch stop!

The next Big Walk - The Inn Way of The Yorkshire Dales

So, whilst walking The Coast to Coast..190 miles from St Bees Head to Robin Hoods Bay, we had plenty of time to plan the next walk!
And we came up with 'The Inn Way'. There are a few walks in the series....in The Lake District, Peak District, Northumberland, North Yorkshire Moors and The Yorkshire Dales.
We decided to start with the one nearest to home.
It starts from Grassington heads to Buckden, Askrigg and as far as Reeth and then back towards Grassington via West Burton and Kettlewell.

The photos below are taken on the 1st stage from Grassington to Bucken back in October.

The Falcon Inn at Arncliffe

Queens Arms Litton

'Tyskie'...our new resident

It's been about 7 weeks now since Terry and i took on full responsibility of Tyskie, a 3 year old Labradoodle.
We had been looking after her since she was 6 weeks old, but only as 'part time dog sitters' along with her 'brother' Webster..a Working Beardied Collie.
It was not an easy decision for her mother to give her away to us but it has turned out the best result for both dogs.
They still get to see eachother for 'sleepovers' so everybody wins!
I have taken to looking after her full time like a 'duck to water'!! Never thought i'd enjoy having a dog full time but the old saying 'a dog is a man's best friend' is so true and i wouldn't be without her now.
She is always there when you need a hug!!

Walk around Kettlewell

You may think that all i do in The Dales is walk...well, why not? It's got some fantastic scenery... which, even though i've lived here on and off all my life, i still find breathtaking.
It's also taken me 40 years to get the opportunity to do some walking, due to having 2 experienced walking friends, whom i got to know on the Coast To Coast challenge.
You could say that the C2C inspired me to 'keep on walking'.I can see that golf is going to take a back seat!!
So, my aim next year is to make some more time for myself & my boots. Even my husband is keen to join me on my adventures.

Starbotton in Early November!!

Autumn in The Yorkshire Dales

I can't believe Summer has been and gone since my last post back in Spring!
It seems it's been all work and no play.
However, I'm pleased to report that i have finished walking The Coast to Coast and have taken on a new challenge...The Inn Way of The Yorkshire Dales. It's a much shorter walk and involves about 5 days of walking, averaging 13 miles a day & stopping at the odd Inn or two!.

Spring in Elslack

There has been a hive of activity in Elslack this morning.... The Hen that's taken up residence in our garden, has given birth (hatched!) to 4 chicks and seems to be on the move. However, she seems to have left 9 eggs behind in her nest.
On the way to tell the farmer, we then spotted a Duck and her 14 ducklings swimming downstream. 12 ducklings were of similar colour and 2 yellow ones, just like the chicks i used to put on my chocolate easter eggs, (when i was making them for the family chocolate business in Skipton!)
I also noticed at the week-end that some of the fish have had babies and 1 still looking very fat! Unfortunately, this is impossible to take a photo of!!

Around and about Elslack. Spring 2011

Thought it was about time i posted photos of Elslack this morning rather than my C2C photos, to avoid confusion as to where i actually live!!! These are a selection taken recently.

The view from Elslack Moor:

The wood behind our house:

Our garden:

My attempt at 'catching the sunset'!

My dad 'popped 'in for coffee one morning!

C2C Day 6 Shap to Kirkby Stephen December 30th 2010

I thought it was about time i updated this blog by posting the photos of the last stage of the C2C walk back at the end of 2010!
I think the reason why it has taken me so long to do so, is because there was no great crisis, no bad weather to report and no spectacular scenery, as in previous stages!
The only doubt we had in our mind about whether the walk would take place was the thick fog the day earlier!!
So, in preparation for an early finish, we took 3 cars up and placed them at the beginning, middle and end of the walk! It was going to be a very long day, whatever the weather, as this was 1 of the longest stages...22 miles! The 1st photo shows the start of the walk from Shap at 7.45 am

 As you can see, we had some sheep intervention whilst Margaret worked out where we were!

 This Steam train was travelling along the Settle to Carlisle railway. Quite spectacular!